Decision-Making 101

Decision-Making 101:God’s Guidance for Decision-Making

Ever struggle making decisions? Well you are in good company; some of God’s greatest servants struggled at times with discerning and executing the will of God. Even folk like Abraham, the great patriarch! God promised Abraham a son, an heir. Clearly, this child would come from Abraham’s own body (Gen. 15:4). The Lord, for whatever reasons, did not specifically indicate that Sarah would be the mother. Since she could not bear children, Abraham naturally reasoned that some other woman should be the mother of his son (Gen. 16:1-2). In a way, God was silent with regard to Sarah’s role in the birth of Abraham’s son. Often in life when making decisions we can refer to a specific passage that affords guidance on the subject we are grappling with. There are times; however, when this is not the case. God appears to be silent in such instances since we do not have a Bible verse dealing with our specific need. So how do we decide matters that God appears to be silent on?

GOD WILL HELP US MAKE DECISIONS THROUGH HIS PRINCIPLES.

God Never Promised That He Will Specifically Reveal His Will Directly To Us Every Time We Need To Make A Decision (Principe 1). There was a time when I did not understand how to determine the will of God, particularly in areas where the Scriptures are silent. One reason is that I did not understand the freedom God has given me to make decisions within the context of His written Word. God never promised to reveal His will directly to us every time we face a decision. Rather, He gives us sufficient information and principles from the Scriptures to help us make proper decisions at any moment in our lives. Furthermore, He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us in interpreting the Scriptures.

This Was True in Old Testament Days

Even in the Old Testament era—a time when God frequently spoke by direct revelation—Abraham and Sarah were responsible to recall and review what God had communicated directly to them previously (Gene Getz). Also Joshua, for instance, was responsible to review what God had already revealed to Moses (Josh. 1:8). He was to meditate on the “book of the law.” He was to study it and communicate it to Israel on a regular basis. This is why Joshua did many things without a direct revelation from God.  

How Much More So Today

If this was true in Abraham’s and Joshua’s times, how much more so in our day when we have the full written revelation of God in the sixty-six books of the Bible. Too many Christians are relying on God to reveal  Himself directly in the midst of the decision making process, without realizing that they are responsible to seek His will through what He has already revealed. Let’s not be lazy and expect God to do the supernatural when we can apply ourselves to understand His Bible principles for making good decisions.

GOD WANTS US TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO USE BIBLE PRINCIPLES. 

When God Is Silent On A Specific Matter, Bible Principles Can Still Be Applied To the Decision Making Process (Principle 2)                                                                                          

What are Some Important Guidelines for Decision Making?

How can we determine God’s will for us today? There are four important considerations:

First, Is There Any Statement in The Bible That Is in Opposition to this Decision? As Christians living in the twenty first century we are privileged people. Abraham and Sarah did not have access to the Word of God as we do. They were dependent solely upon God’s direct revelations, visions, appearances, and promises.  Sometimes there were five and ten years between messages. By contrast, we have access to the Scriptures themselves every day.

Exercise:

How can the Scriptures help us make decisions? The Bible tells us what to do directly with commands and exhortations (2 Cor. 6:14). For example, Christians are not to be bound together with non-Christians in any spiritual enterprise or relationship that would be detrimental to the Christian’s testimony within the body of Christ (1 Cor. 5:9–13; 1 Cor. 6:15–18; 10:7–21; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15). (J. MacArthur)

But how should we apply this principle? On what enterprises or relationships should it be the bases of our decision? One application would be close friendships, and another is marriage prospects. God makes it very clear in Scripture that a Christian should not marry a non-Christian (1Cor. 7:39). The same principle could be applied to a business partnership with an unbeliever. But this command does not mean believers should end all associations with unbelievers; that would defy the purpose for which God saved believers and left us on earth (Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 9:19–23).

Note the good insights of MacDonald and Farstad as they apply the principle of spiritual separation to various relationships.

It certainly refers to the marriage relationship. A Christian should not marry an unsaved person. However, in cases where a believer is already married to an unbeliever, this passage does not justify separation or divorce. God’s will in such a case is that the marriage relationship should be maintained with a view to the eventual salvation of the unsaved member (1 Cor. 7:12–16).
In addition to this, it refers to business. A Christian should not go into partnership with one who does not know the Lord. It clearly applies to secret orders or fraternities: How could one who is faithful to Christ consistently go on in an association where the name of the Lord Jesus is unwelcome? Its application to social life would be as follows: A Christian should maintain contact with the unsaved in an effort to win them to Christ, but he should never engage in their sinful pleasures or in any of their activities in such a way as to lead them to think he is no different than they. Then this section would also apply to religious matters: A faithful follower of Christ would not want to hold membership in a church where unbelievers were knowingly admitted as members. (Believer's Bible Commentary)

To do either of these would be a violation of God’s perfect will as expressed by the biblical principle. There’s no way to make Scripture conform to our feelings if our feelings are out of harmony with Scripture. We must look, then, for direct commands and exhortations in Scripture that will help us make decisions (1 Thess. 5:14-22). The better we know the Word of God, the more we will be able to make right decisions.

Second, What Do Other Mature Christians Think about this Decision? What Advice Can They Give? Mature Christians who know the Word of God and who are living spiritual lives are important in helping us determine God’s will (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:5-8). That’s why we must never forsake the assembling of ourselves together with other Christians (Heb. 10:24-25). Often through our local church, the functioning body of Christ, we learn what His will is for our lives (C. Stanley)

What other people think-even mature Christians-is not as important as our personal knowledge of Scripture. Nor can they make decisions for us where the Scriptures are silent. However, there is safety in a “multitude of counselors” (Prov. 11:14). Corporate wisdom from godly people is significant in God’s scheme of things (Eph. 4:16).

Third, What Circumstances Point to the Fact That this May Be a Right or Wrong Decision? Circumstances are important in the decision-making process. The Apostle Paul often spoke of the will of God in terms of the role of circumstances (Rom. 1:13-15; 15:22-28; Acts 16:6-7; 1 Thess. 2:17, 18). Clearly then Christians are to be guided by circumstances. For instance, First Century Believers were scattered or driven by persecution (Acts 8:1–4; 11:19; 13:50, 51; 14:5, 6). Civil authorities asked Paul and Silas to leave Philippi (Acts 16:39, 40). Later Paul was taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea by the authorities (23:33). The circumstance of Paul’s appeal to Caesar determined his trip to Rome (Acts 25:11), and the later shipwreck affected the timing and sequence of moves (Acts 27:41; 28:1) (Wiersbe, McArthur, & MacDonald).

However, we must be careful that we do not allow negative circumstances to be the primary factor in making a decision for or against a matter. Many times Christians are called upon to circumvent negative circumstances and to break through environmental barriers (Deut. 1:19-38). The fact that a Christian is having struggles because of negative circumstances does not mean he is out of the will of God while pursuing a particular course of action (Judges 20). It’s at this point that wise counselors play an important role in our lives.

Fourth, How Do I Feel about this Decision?

Feelings should be considered last. They are important, but they also can be deceptive. Negative emotions may represent purely emotional struggles. Any difficult decision creates anxious if not painful feelings. Imagine what would have happened if Jesus had paid attention to His feelings when He was praying in the Garden? In His humanity, He wanted to walk away from the cross. But in spite of His strong negative emotions, He did the will of God (C. Stanley).

On the other hand, positive emotions may simply mean this is something we want to do! This is why feelings must always be tested and evaluated by what God says in His Word (Phil. 4:7; Col. 3:15).

Trust God for peace when making decisions that make you anxious. The “peace of (or from) God” (Phil. 4:7) relates to the inner calm or tranquility based on a believer’s close walk with God. It is the product of a thankful attitude based on unwavering confidence that God is able and willing to do what is best for His children (Rom. 8:28).

MacDonald and Farstad observed,

People of the world cannot understand it at all, and even Christians possessing it find a wonderful element of mystery about it. They are surprised at their own lack of anxiety in the face of tragedy or adverse circumstances.
This peace garrisons the heart and the thought life. What a needed tonic it is, then, in this day of neuroses, nervous breakdowns, tranquilizers, and mental distress. (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

Trust God’s Peace to Make the Call! “The peace of God” (Col. 3:15) should act as an umpire in our hearts according to W. MacDonald. If in anything we are in doubt, we should ask ourselves the questions: “Does it make for peace?” or “Would I have peace in my heart if I went ahead and did it?” Again consider the counsel of MacDonald,

This verse [Col. 3:15] is especially helpful when seeking guidance from the Lord. If the Lord really wants you to embark upon a certain course of action, He will most assuredly give you peace about it. If you do not have that peace, then you should not proceed. As has been said: “Darkness about going is light about staying.” Christ called us to enjoy His peace, both as individuals and also in the church. (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

What About You and Me?    

Although we may never face the same problems as Abraham, we do face walls of frustration in trying to live life as God intends us to. What may be particularly troublesome is the challenge to make decisions when God does not give specific details to guide us. To avoid making mistakes, always consult the following principles (Gene Getz):

     1. Avoid taking matters into your own hands without consulting God.     2. Avoid quick decisions and snap judgments without gaining a comprehensive perspective on the situation.     3. Avoid leaning too heavily on the judgments of those closest to you without also consulting other mature Christians.     4. Avoid allowing your thinking and judgments to be influenced by your previous value system that is out of harmony with the teaching and principles of Scripture.     5. Avoid selecting methods to solve your problems that are not in harmony with God’s direct teachings and principles in the Word of God. (Gene Getz)

In conclusion review these principles, select the one you tend to violate the most when making decisions. For example, you may tend to take matters into your own hands without consulting God. Or you may allow your previous lifestyle and value system to influence you strongly in the decision-making process. Whatever your particular need, set a personal goal to consciously make decisions by Bible principles (Gene Getz).

We should never resort to “worldly methods” to achieved spiritual objectives. What is God leading you to do? What obstacles stand in the way of you accomplishing His will? What Bible principles will guide you to a solution that is in harmony with the will of God?